what is your BEST money saving TIP?

[RCT]

ok, I know we have talked about this to death...but again since we have new people aboard....anyone care to share thier BEST money saving advice/tip.....

[AnnW]

Don't charge anything. If you don't have cash for it, you don't need it.

[MaryL]

Originally posted by AnnW
Don't charge anything. If you don't have cash for it, you don't need it.

....unless you pay off your credit card each month! That's what we do. We charge alot, and hardly ever use cash. However, we pay off our cards each month. If we couldn't then we would stop using the cards.

[Cathy]

Define the words "want" and "need". Write down your definitions, and refer to them often.

[AnnW]

Originally posted by MaryL


....unless you pay off your credit card each month! That's what we do. We charge alot, and hardly ever use cash. However, we pay off our cards each month. If we couldn't then we would stop using the cards.

well, yea, that's what I meant. LOL We charge for the mileage and bonus points, but we have the money. I guess the better phrase would be finance it.

[Lynda/WA]

Document what you spend and what grocries cost.

Write down every last penny spent at least for awhile. You may be suprised at how much some of that little stuff adds up. Maybe when you see just how much you are spending on something over the course of a month or year you may decide it isn't worth it. Just a way to help you prioritise which spending is more important to you. For example - some people have mentioned having date night. Say you spend 40$ a week on this (count in babysitter, cost of movie/meal etc). That's 160$ a month or 1,920 a year. If that's a priority fine. Otherwise it can be an incentive to either cut it out or find something cheaper to do.

I document food costs so I know what is a deal. I stock up on sale items to keep food costs down.

[AnnW]

Originally posted by Lynda/WA
. For example - some people have mentioned having date night. Say you spend 40$ a week on this (count in babysitter, cost of movie/meal etc).

I want to live where you can go to dinner, movie and hire a babysitter for $40!!!!! :newwink:

Great suggestions Linda!

[MaryL]

Me too!!!!!8o I pay our sitter (teenager) $5/hour when we go out. That's pretty much the going rate. What do you pay your sitters?

[Brichard]

I agree with Lynda to watch your food spending. It is definitely our largest variable cost. Watch how much you eat out, how much you spend at the grocery, etc.

Some friends of ours gave us a great idea which works well when we do it. Get out cash for your groceries for the week.

This does two things:

1. Keeps you on a budget b/c when it is gone... it is gone!
2. It is documented that you spend less when you use cash. Even if you pay off charge cards, on average you will spend more.